Why is NCPCR investigating Meta, Instagram?
Under what powers can the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights summon social media platforms and other companies?
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has summoned Meta officials to investigate child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM) on Instagram. British public broadcaster BBC reported that the company identified and disabled several violating ads and accounts before being brought to the NCPCR's attention.
Meta said it automatically removes millions of CSAM posting accounts each year, but acknowledged a system is not perfect and that determined criminals will continue to try to exploit the platform. The Tech Transparency Project, a US-based nonprofit, found hundreds of CSAM ads on Facebook and Instagram, including some served to India.
Even after Meta took down the CSEAM, it tagged the ads as adult sexual content, potentially undercounting instances of child sexual abuse. Some ads appeared to feature an unidentified "underaged European royal." Meta's ads on this channel are subject to a more relaxed enforcement regime, earning the platform billions of dollars.
Despite reporting CSEAM posts, Meta's response was often "We've taken a look and found that this ad doesn't go against our Advertising Standards." The NCPCR issued a notice demanding an explanation from the company on July 3, and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology also sought an explanation.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
